The Department of Anthropology and Archeology, University of Sindh Jamshoro on Monday organised an interactive session titled “Anthropology in Pakistan: Challenges and Perspectives.”
Former professor at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad & renowned anthropologist Prof. Dr. Syed Anwar Iqbal Shaeen graced the event as a keynote speaker. Chairman, Department of Anthropology & Archeology Dr. Mohammad Hanif Leghari warmly welcomed the guests, highlighting the department’s progress. Engaging with a large number of participants comprising students & faculty, he underscored the holistic nature and scope of anthropology, spanning cultural, linguistic, physical, archaeological, and applied dimensions. This interdisciplinary approach, he said, provided a diverse perspective crucial for comprehending and resolving the complex issues facing our society. Highlighting the global and local need for anthropologists, he stressed their role in offering recommendations amid escalating societal challenges marked by increasing intolerance and radicalization.
Addressing the post-COVID economic landscape, he noted observable changes in human behavior, attributing them to economic fragility, political instability and social polarization where anthropologists could play a critical role through producing quality research. Prof. Dr. Shaheen highlighted the significance of anthropology and development in Pakistan, citing examples from his own experiences of working with various development projects. He shared his experiences by highlighting his involvement in development projects such as rural electrification and socioeconomic development, forestry, acute respiratory diseases and garbage management. He called attention to the career-oriented fields of medical anthropology and clinical anthropology. He gladly announced establishing the computer lab for the students in the department of Anthropology and Archaeology and donating books for the seminar library of the department.
On the occasion, Dr. Abdul Razaque Channa expressed gratitude by presenting a Tote bag made of traditional Ajrak and Lungi to the guest, acknowledging his invaluable insights. Prof. M. Mukhtiar Kazi and Prof. Dr. Agha Asad Noor expressed thanks to Prof. Dr. Syed Anwar Iqbal for his dedication to the profession and decorated him with the Ajrak. They urged students to focus on research and technology, asserting that anthropology and archaeology thrive on robust research. The department’s faculty, including Dr. Rafique Wassan, Dr. Muhbat Ali Shah, Ali Taqi, Mr. Suneel, Ms. Umbreen Soomro, Mr. Ali Taquai Shah, Quratullain, Sadaf and Hamid Gadahi, actively participated in discussions with students.
